Six people distinguished in their fields have been awarded honorary degrees at Lancaster University’s graduation ceremonies this July.

Professor Phil Scraton

Honorary Doctor of Laws

Phil Scraton is Professor Emeritus of Critical Criminology in the School of Law, Queen’s University, Belfast. Until 2002, he was Director of the Centre for Studies in Crime and Social Justice at Edge Hill University. His research includes controversial deaths and the state; rights of the bereaved and survivors following disasters; and the politics of incarceration. He led Hillsborough Independent Panel’s research team and was principal author of its ground-breaking 2013 report, Hillsborough. Adviser to the families’ legal teams throughout the inquests, the new edition of Hillsborough: The Truth was published in 2016. He was awarded Freedom of the City of Liverpool and was factual consultant on and contributor to the 2017 BAFTA winning documentary Hillsborough.

Bryan Gray CBE DL

Honorary Doctor of Laws

Bryan Gray was Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University from 2003 until 2013. He was the Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency from 2002 until August 2009, Chairman of Peel Media Group (responsible for MediaCityUK), and is currently a director of Westmorland Ltd, which operates motorway services. Bryan was Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of Baxi Group Ltd, and latterly Chairman of Baxi Technologies. In 2006 he was awarded the HRH, The Prince of Wales’ Ambassador Award for the North West and in 2008 he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for services to regeneration in the North West.

The Rt Hon the Lord Hague of Richmond, PC FRSL

Honorary Doctor of Laws

William Hague is a British Conservative politician and life peer. He represented Richmond, Yorkshire, as Member of Parliament from 1989 to 2015. He also served as Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2001, as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2010 to 2014 and as Leader of the House of Commons from 2014 to 2015. Hague was elevated as a Life Peer in 2015 and took a seat on the House of Lords Government benches in autumn 2015.

Barrie Rutter OBE

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Actor and director Barrie Rutter, OBE, was born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1946 and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Glasgow. These northern roots have fed into an internationally acclaimed career in the theatre and in film and television. Barrie performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and at The National Theatre where he worked closely with fellow northerner, Tony Harrison. In 1992, he formed Northern Broadsides Theatre Company, based in Halifax and dedicated to the performance of Shakespeare in northern voices and in nonvelvet theatre spaces. He led the company as Artistic Director until 2017, touring internationally, and was never afraid of taking risks. He has just directed Shakespeare and Fletcher’s Two Noble Kinsmen at the Globe in London.

Lindsey Hilsum

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Lindsay Hilsum is the multi-award winning International Editor for Channel 4 News. She is renowned for her ability to analyse and explain the often complex issues underlying major conflicts around the world, whether in Central America, the Middle East, Africa or Afghanistan. She is a frequent contributor to The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and the New Statesman. Her book, Sandstorm: Libya in a Time of Revolution, was short-listed for The Guardian First Book Award. Her contributions to more nuanced understandings of global conflict and inequality have been recognised by award of The Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, and Honorary Fellowship of the Scottish Royal Geographical Society.

Professor Fusuo Zhang

Honorary Doctor of Science

Professor Fusuo Zhang is a plant nutritionist and member of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Engineering. He has a distinguished record of high quality publications which have influenced government policy. He is Director of the National Institute of Green Agricultural Development at China Agricultural University. Born in a small village in Northwest China and with childhood memories of hunger, poverty and water shortage, Professor Zhang’s aim is to work with farmers in China and across the world to produce more food with reduced use of scarce resources.